On 5/11/2008 k2qmf@juno.com wrote:
> Hello All,
> Does stainless steel aircraft cable require a coating???
> Thanks in advance for any input...
> 73,
> Ted K2QMF
Don't know about coating, but ANY "wire rope" that moves - aka you are using it
in your hoist system should be regularly lubricated, and preferably with a lube
meant for wire rope. (there are a few sold specifically for hams - I have a
couple of cans from when I used to work in the hoist industry)
The problem is NOT only rust, the problem is that when the wire is bent/moves,
each wire in the cable slides over it's neighbors. If they are not lubricated,
they wear on each other. Stainless can be particularly bad, as certain grades
of stainless are notorious for "galling" when rubbed against itself (probably
why you don't see stainless on lift cables all that often)
The 2 main problems in wire rope lubrication is that 1)You have to get the lube
down into the center of the cable - the worst wear is on the inner strands of
each bundle and 2)What ever you use should dry "non tacky" - if it remains
tacky, it WILL pick up dust/dirt, and you have just re-created "lapping
compound" - it will wear out your cables very quickly
Most wire rope lubes are a very waxy lubricant (possibly even wax) dissolved in
a solvent that evaporates fairly quickly. You apply it to the rope (most I've
seen are spray on) and usually you are told to wipe down the outside to remove
any excess lube. In use, the lube tends to squeeze out between the strands to
lube the outside
--
73 de KG2V
For the Children - RKBA!
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always
possess arms,
and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them..."
-- Richard Henry Lee, 1787
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